We thank the Islamic Center of Tacoma, MAPS-AMEN, and Associated Ministries for inviting FAN to be part of last Sunday’s interfaith solidarity gathering, after recent arsons at the Islamic Center of Tacoma, St. Charles Borromeo, and vandalization at other Puget Sound Faith communities. We witnessed again that the power of love is stronger than fear.

Don’t miss registering for the Annual Celebration!

Only two weeks until our online Annual Dinner Celebration on Sunday, November 21. We hope you’ll register by 11/15 to get all the updates and the link to join in. Thanks to those who have generously sponsored! You can find sponsors and weekly updates at: https://fanwa.org/annual-dinner. We are grateful to those who have pre-registered, and there is still room for YOU!

Please help us get the word out and make it a great celebration!

1)   Register yourself by 11/15 and encourage others in your faith community to join you. Forward this email to committees and friends. Post the event ad in your faith community newsletter or on social media.

2)   Host a watch party! While we can’t gather together in a large room, we can join with a few others to make the evening more fun and meaningful. Please take a look at our Watch Party packet for suggestions. And let us know you’re hosting others by emailing fan@fanwa.org so we can be sure to send you updates.

We will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of FAN’s interfaith movement for justice and all we’ve accomplished together. We will also be celebrating Rev. Paul Benz’s years of service to FAN, and his decades of advocacy in our state, as he prepares to retire at the end of the year. And we’ll be Moving Forward with you and our shared values into a bright future. You will have a chance to hear from our new Policy Engagement Director, Kristin Ang, who will emcee the program. And Rick Steves will again be joining us to encourage support for FAN and for advocacy. You won’t want to miss this year!

Tax Reform in WA

Thank you to all who made it to the Tax Town Halls. Today, November 5, is the final day to weigh in on the kind of taxation you would like to see in our state. FAN has recommended Scenario F that includes a progressive income tax. We are grateful to our Economic Justice Working Group leaders (Steve Clagett, Jane Sisk, Bob Beekman) who have amplified this conversation in cluster meetings and have provided prep sessions for those willing to testify.

Commemoration of Dr. King’s Visit to Seattle

This weekend marks the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s visit to the Northwest, where he was invited by Rev. Samuel McKinney at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Seattle, and hosted by Temple De Hirsch Sinai and Plymouth Church as well. There is a series of events that will feature his son, Martin Luther King III, local faith leaders, music, and more. Please see the schedule of events here: http://naamnw.org/mlk60

Boarding School Healing Event

Heritage College is hosting a Pathways to Truth and Healing webinar event next Tuesday 11/9. The Interfaith Network with Indigenous Communities invites you to tune in as a way of living into the commitments of the letter about boarding schools we issued last month, posted at FANWA.org/INIC.
Tuesday Nov 9, 4 PM – Boarding School Conversation with Christine McCleave, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition; Rev Maurice Sands, Catholic Indian Mission Bureau; the Rev David Bell, Yakama Christian Mission. Limited Capacity in Person RSVP required. Whether you are nearby to attend in person, or would like to access through Zoom, please RSVP to Rev. David Hacker hacker_d@heritage.edu

The Boarding School Healing Coalition will also be sponsoring a virtual Healing in a Time of Truth and Justice summit Nov 19-20.

Conversation on Reparations

FAN will be co-sponsoring with Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action (PSARA) a webinar on reparations–Friday, November 19, at 5pm. Dr. Ron Daniels, the Convenor and Administrator of the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC) will discuss the status of efforts to achieve reparations for the African American descendants of slavery. Dr. Daniels is a veteran social and political activist. He served as Executive Director of the National Rainbow Coalition in 1987 and Southern Regional Coordinator and Deputy Campaign Manager for the Jesse Jackson for President Campaign in 1988. The event will be moderated by Larry Gossett and Alice Ito. Contact organizer@psara.org to get the link to the webinar.

Rental Assistance Links to Share

Now that the statewide eviction moratorium has expired, we advocate that municipalities put their own protections for renters in place. In the meantime, please direct people who need help to these sources of rental assistance: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/homelessness/eviction-rent-assistance-program/

Working Families Tax Credit Implementation

Following implementation of bills we help to pass is an important part of advocacy too! The Department of Revenue (DOR) has set up listening sessions to take place in the first two weeks of November. These listening sessions are a way for DOR to get feedback on the administration of the WFTC prior to writing the formal Rules! They will be asking for feedback about eligibility, verification, dependents, technical assistance, and more. The listening sessions will be:

  • Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1-2:30 pm
  • Tuesday, Nov. 9, 6-7:30 pm
  • Saturday, Nov. 13, 10-11:30 am